---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: Species CAPITALIZED above are on the Alabama Bird Records
Committee review list.
Check the AOS website (address below - look in Alabama Bird Record Committee
section) for forms and suggestions on how to submit your sightings of these
species to the state database. Please send observations with appropriate
details
to:

NOTE: Where possible, DeLorme Alabama Atlas coordinates [DeAL xx-xx]are
provided following each site description. Page references to the AOS
Birder's
Guide to Alabama [BGtA p. xx] will also be included for birding locations
sites
described therein. See the AOS website for information on how to obtain
this
bird finding guide.

Alabama Rare Bird Report - Monday, September 29, 2003.

Ft. Morgan was certainly the place to be birding today with not one but TWO
potential first state records seen back-to-back!!!

First, a bird described as a VIRGINIA'S WARBLER was briefly seen in the
stable area at around 9:00 a.m. perched in a pine tree. After the bird flew
it
could not be relocated.

Then at around 11:30 a.m. an apparent 1st winter YELLOW WAGTAIL was
discovered in the scrubby sand dune area between the seawall and Mobile
Point. After
more observers assembled the bird was relocated at 2:00 p.m. by listening
for
its distinctive call and was then seen more or less continuously until 5:15
p.m.
when the last birder left the area. During the day the bird was well
observed and at times posed for extended scope views in bush tops and
leafless
shrubs. The wagtail appears to consistently associate with Palm Warblers
and gives
a call during its undulating flight described to be "somewhat like an
Eastern
Kingbird or American Pipit, quite unlike the Palm Warbler's chip."

This reporter is aware of no accepted U.S. records for this species in the
Lower 48 east of Nevada so wagtail searchers are encouraged to utilize
cameras,
video recorders, etc., in documenting this ultra-rarity.

Needless to say results of searches for either of these birds (positive or
negative) are highly desired! Please note that Ft. Morgan park officially
opens
at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. Be sure to pay your $3 entrance fee so
birders won't get a bad name. Birders are welcome to walk from the parking
lot around the fort to the south to reach the seawall and beyond, however,
please avoid walking or driving through the residential area south of the
fort and
disturbing residents there. [DeAL 64-B4][BGtA p. 24]

The fall meeting of the Alabama Ornithological Society will be 10/10-12 on
Dauphin Island. The Hummer/Bird Study Group will be banding at Ft. Morgan
10/4-18. Visitors are welcome!

This list is sponsored by the Alabama
Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided
as a service to the birding community. AOS
does not endorse the views or opinions expressed
by the members of this discussion group. Nor
does AOS support or endorse the advertising
provided by the OneList list service.

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/